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Five police officers are being investigated for misconduct after British sprinter Bianca Williams and her partner were handcuffed during a stop and search.
Williams claimed she was racially profiled by officers in the July 4 incident in Maida Vale, west London, in which the couple were separated from their three-month-old son.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick then he apologized to Williams and told MPs that two officers had also spoken with Ms. Williams and her partner, Ricardo dos Santos, to apologize for the “anguish” caused.
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Ms WIlliams later said in a statement: “We have now received an apology for the distress caused by the incident, but significantly, not for the totally unwarranted actions that the officers took against our family.”
The investigation is being conducted by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
The IOPC said the five officers would be investigated for possible violations of police standards of professional conduct related to the use of force; Duties and responsibilities; and authority, respect and courtesy.
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: “The officers involved are from the Territorial Support Group. No officer is suspended or subject to restricted duties.
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“The MPS continues to cooperate fully with the IOPC investigation.”
Scotland Yard previously said nothing was found during the search and no arrests were made, but officers stopped the vehicle after it was seen driving suspiciously and on the wrong side of the road.
Ms. Williams has denied this, saying the car was “never” on the wrong side of the road.
The Met’s Professional Standards Directorate reviewed initial body camera images and social media from the meeting, the force said.
The agency decided that none of the officers’ actions warranted a disciplinary process.
Three days later, on July 7, after the Met was tagged in a social media post by Ms. Williams, it referred the matter. to the IOPC, citing his complaint and “the great public interest” in what happened.
The IOPC told the Met that “several officers should be investigated for possible violations of standards of professional conduct,” the force’s statement added.
The Met responded that the alleged failures, if proven, “would only amount to minor violations of standards of professional behavior or performance-related problems.”
“These would not be at the level of misconduct and would be just as suitable for reflective practice.”
